Monday
Canvassing. And something strange is going on. People reference national events on the doorstep, to be sure. But those who were Cs last time ultimately seem extremely likely to be Cs this time.
It’s a different picture on the ground to that shown in the polls – a point made by many Tories but, as it’s true, I mention it.
Tuesday
We finish delivery for our Get Out the Postal Vote personalised letters. With so many people now registered to vote by post this is no small undertaking and the volunteers who’ve done it with me are fantastic. Delivering in the sunshine at last!
Wednesday
It emerges that conservatives in different roles put bets on when the election was going to be. My views on this are pretty unprintable, beyond noting that this story is likely to run because the behaviour is so laughably stupid it would be comical – but for the harm it does to those of us campaigning street by street. Thanks guys.
We have our first hustings. On the one hand Sarah Sackman, my Labour opponent, has an advantage, as it’s held at the synagogue at which she and her family have worshipped for years. I can’t compete with that past.
On the other hand, the Jewish school next to it wrote to me to say they are in jeopardy thanks to Labour’s VAT on independent schools policy, a point I make. Voters will have to decide what’s more important – the past, or the future.
(Sarah also has to explain how she entirely disagrees with her own party when it comes to David Lammy outbursts on Israel. To coin a phrase… I agree with Sarah.)
Future such outings are alas curtailed as my opponents have turned down most of the other hustings we’ve been invited to.
Thursday
Canvassing.
The latest televised leadership “debate” – albeit they’re sequential presentations this time, not an actual debate. The format doesn’t allow for proper explanations of positions on issues like membership of the ECHR (which I’ve discussed elsewhere) and Fiona Bruce breaks her own rule about not interrupting right after mentioning it, and throughout.
But one thing becomes clear with Sir Keir Starmer’s answers. When pressed, he says that Jeremy Corbyn would have been a better prime minister than Boris Johnson.
Bear in mind that I’m running for Finchley and Golders Green, the most Jewish seat in the country. What are such electors supposed to think of the belief that Corbyn was fit to be prime minister? Corbyn, who said Hamas were his friends – friends who have raped, murdered and kidnapped Jews and say they’ll do it again? Hamas, the proscribed terrorist organisation?
Starmer joins Lammy and Angela Rayner in the ranks of those inadvertently kneecapping my Labour opponent and assisting my campaign.
Friday
A community meeting with Mike Freer, a consummate professional who’s happily doing a farewell tour that would embarrass Sinatra by way of introducing me to those he knows well – which is a lot of people. And then, and this will surprise you… canvassing.
Saturday
Canvassing in Cricklewood. I really like this place. A university friend joins to canvass, with the opening line “I’m a Labour voter normally but I’m campaigning for Alex”, which gets attention.
The latest MRP shows us holding the seat, in the face of brutal results elsewhere. No pressure. Interesting number of voters on doorstep say they don’t mind us losing government (!) but don’t care for a landslide either. And in the words of one of them, “I’d therefore vote for you even if I didn’t like you.” A vote’s a vote!
(Reflecting the point made above about postal votes, canvassing in this election turns up the response “I’ve already voted” more frequently than I’ve seen on the doorsteps ever before.)
Sunday
Triple canvass session, with the help of Conservative Friends of Israel on the ground today. Full of energy, full of passion – and a lot of them!
In the evening, a house meeting. People hosting political events for their neighbours in their own homes – a lovely aspect of British democracy in action.
